'Deadpool 2' review: Ryan Reynolds' sarcastic superhero is back, and just in time

Marvel's indestructible mercenary, whose sequel slams into multiplexes on May 18, is incredibly sadistic. He's a little perverse, and frankly fond of recreational drugs. The only thing filthier than his torn and sleazy Spandex is his mouth.

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And right now, he's the perfect "Avengers" antidote.

Thor and Captain America and Black Panther are all terrific, sure, but sometimes their righteous role-model parade seems to stretch into infinity. This raunchy mercenary has never been one — and that's refreshing.

The first "Deadpool" movie, back in 2016, set the rudely rebellious mood right in its crazy opening credits ("Directed by An Overpaid Tool"). It mocked everything, including other Marvel movies. It more than earned its R rating.

It was game-changing and "Deadpool 2" sometimes struggles to measure up. New director David Leitch ("Atomic Blonde") is a lot better at over-the-top fight scenes than outrageous humor.

Sometimes he confuses outrageous with borderline-offensive, too. It's bad enough that Dopinder is back, a cab driver who's only slightly less stereotyped than Apu. But did we have to add a giggly Asian fantasy girl, too?

But the action is great, and the film mostly moves fast. It starts with a depressed Deadpool reluctantly joining the X-Men as a trainee. When a mission goes wrong, he and a fire-starting teen mutant are arrested and sent to a maximum-security mutant prison.

Then things get really complicated — thanks to the time-travelling Cable, a cyborg cop from the future who's come back to change history. And, yeah, we know just how often that works out.

The great thing about the "Deadpool" franchise is that it knows, too. It's seen all the same movies we have.

So yes, Cable's arrival brings "Terminator" references. The X-Men connections mean Patrick Stewart and "Logan" jokes. And let's just say the screenwriters are very aware these aren't the first comic-book characters Reynolds and Josh Brolin have played.

Brolin plays Cable here, and he plays it pretty straight — a smart move as Reynolds gets enough punchlines for three characters. And that comedy is crucial in a movie which is over-the-top bloody, with limbs lopped off and people literally ripped in half.

The gore is more Monty-Python silly than slasher-movie sickening, though, and Reynolds' pretension-puncturing is perpetually on target. "You're so dark," he tells Cable. "You sure you're not from the DC Universe?"

And Zazie Beetz from "Atlanta" is a great addition as Domino, a mutant with the superpower of luck. Don't think that's a superpower? Just watch this woman drive an armored convoy down a crowded city street.

The film's more serious moments drag a bit — we don't need a Deadpool with emotional issues any more than we'd need a Batman who does slapstick. And Deadpool's friend Weasel has definitely worn out his welcome — almost as quickly as has T.J. Miller, the guy who plays him.

But this is still a fast, fun romp. And here's a tip — although every die-hard superhero fan stays for the post-credits scenes, nobody should even think of missing these. The last few minutes in this film are the funniest Marvel moments ever.